Aptera Motors

Aptera was founded as Accelerated Composites in 2006 by Steve Fambro, who formerly worked at Illumina. Fambro hired Chris Anthony as COO shortly after founding the company.{{Cite web | url = http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/09/26/business/news/7_01_009_25_07.prt| title = Prototype gets 300 mpg, company says, qualifies for car-pool lane | last = Bradley| first = Fikes| date = September 25, 2007| publisher = North County Times | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608224625/http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/09/26/business/news/7_01_009_25_07.prt|archive-date=June 8, 2008}} The company name was later changed to Aptera Motors, referencing the Greek word "aptera" which the company interprets as "wingless flight."{{citation |url=https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15146037/2010-aptera-2e-review/ |title=2010 Aptera 2e |author=Steve Siler |date=March 19, 2009 |website=Car and Driver}} In 2006, the company announced it had a three-wheeled car design, classified as a motorcycle, that would get an estimated {{convert|330|mpgus|L/100 km}} at {{convert|65|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. Aptera Motors hired several industry veterans in 2008 to oversee engineering and production as well as marketing. The company raised $24 million from Google and Idealab, and announced it plans to bring its car to market by the end of 2008.{{cite news|last1=Wert|first1=Ray|title=Aptera Founders Ousted in Boardroom Showdown|url=http://jalopnik.com/5405602/aptera-founders-ousted-in-boardroom-showdown|work=Jalopnik|date=November 16, 2009}}

Near the end of 2008, the company hired Paul Wilbur as CEO and announced that the launch of the vehicle, called "typ-1" or "2e", would be delayed until 2009. The company's new leadership found that its potential customers saw the existing design as impractical. For example, they pointed to issues with the windows being fixed in place; replacing them with roll-down windows required redesigning the car's structural shell. Approximately 4,000 people signed up as potential customers for a planned California-only launch.{{citation |last1=Patel |first1=Nilay |title=Aptera rolls out first pre-production vehicle, promises shipments in October |url=https://www.engadget.com/2009-01-23-aptera-rolls-out-first-pre-production-vehicle-promises-shipment.html |website=Engadget |date=January 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315235629/https://www.engadget.com/2009-01-23-aptera-rolls-out-first-pre-production-vehicle-promises-shipment.html |archive-date=March 15, 2023}} Despite rumors of being "ousted", Aptera founders Fambro and Anthony remained on the board of directors.{{cite news |last1=Siry |first1=Darryl |title=Aptera Founder Takes a Permanent Vacation |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/02/steve-fambro-leaves-aptera/ |access-date=1 October 2023 |publisher=Wired |date=1 February 2010}} Frambo headed Aptera's advanced concepts group, while Anthony gradually spent less and less time at Aptera while acting as CEO for a company developing battery management systems. Fambro supported the changes made to the design.{{citation |title=Aptera's False Rumors: Founders Not "Ousted"—On Vacation |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a4808/4337060/ |website=Popular Mechanics |author=Ben Stewart |date=November 15, 2009}}

Aptera applied for a loan from the Department of Energy under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. The application was rejected in December 2008, because three-wheelers such as the one made by Aptera were not defined as "cars" which were required to be four-wheeled.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/03/aptera-legislat/ |title=Tri, Tri Again for Aptera 3-Wheeler Loan From Feds | Autopia |magazine=Wired |date= March 11, 2009|access-date=October 25, 2009 |first=Chuck |last=Squatriglia| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091113173941/http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/03/aptera-legislat/| archive-date= November 13, 2009 | url-status= live}} Aptera successfully lobbied to change the regulations,{{cite magazine |last1=Squatriglia |first1=Chuck |title=Obama Says Aptera's 3-Wheeler Is a Car |url=https://www.wired.com/2009/10/aptera-doe/|magazine=Wired|date=2009-10-30 |access-date=2020-02-25}} and reapplied for a $184 million loan{{Cite web|last=Korzeniewski |first=Jeremy |url=http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/30/aptera-officialy-resubmits-application-for-doe-loan/ |title=Aptera officially resubmits application for DOE loan – Autoblog Green |publisher=Green.autoblog.com |date=October 30, 2009 |access-date=September 6, 2010}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.apteraforum.com/showthread.php?t=4211 |title=April 14 Press Release |date=April 14, 2010 |access-date=April 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707154247/http://www.apteraforum.com/showthread.php?t=4211 |archive-date=July 7, 2011 }} in January 2010. The department's sales projections for the Aptera 2e showed it will not enable Aptera to repay its loan. Aptera shifted all its development efforts in January 2011 to a mid-sized four-wheeled four-door sedan, dubbed the 4e. Aptera Motors started to return deposits from customers on August 12, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1064883_futuristic-electric-car-dream-dead-aptera-to-refund-deposits|title=Futuristic Electric-Car Dream Dead? Aptera To Refund Deposits|author=John Voelcker|publisher=Green Car Reports|date=August 13, 2011|access-date=August 13, 2011}} At the time, the company reported 60,000 people had expressed interest in buying the 2e vehicle, and 2,000 of them had paid a $500 deposit.{{cite news |url=https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/industry-news/santa-rosa-said-to-be-home-for-reborn-aptera-electric-roadster/ |title=Santa Rosa said to be home for reborn Aptera electric roadster |author=Quackenbush |work=North Bay Business Journal |date=May 7, 2012 |access-date=March 15, 2023}}

The Department of Energy issues a conditional commitment letter for $150 million of loans for Aptera, pending the company raises $80 million privately. When the DoE declined a loan application for a similarly plastic-bodied car by a different company in November 2011, Aptera investors refused to grant it further funds. In December 2011, the company announced that it cannot raise the funds required to continue operating.{{cite news|url=http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/unable-to-raise-financing-aptera-shuts-down/?ref=automobiles|title=Unable to Raise Financing, Aptera Shuts Down|author=Jim Motavalli|work=The New York Times|date=December 2, 2011|access-date=December 3, 2011}} The company was sold and liquidated in December 2011, after starting to return customer deposits in August.{{cite news |last1=Groom |first1=Nichola |title=California electric car startup Aptera shuts down |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-aptera-idUSTRE7B201D20111203 |access-date=3 October 2023 |publisher=Reuters |date=2 December 2011}} By December the majority of the deposits have been returned according to Aptera, though some depositors reported difficulties getting in touch with Aptera or its liquidators.{{citation |url=https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1070490_aptera-collapse-how-why-it-happened-a-complete-chronology |title=Aptera Collapse: How & Why It Happened, A Complete Chronology |author=John Voelcker |date=December 12, 2011 |website=Green Car Report}}

In April 2012, the Chinese automaker Zhejiang Jonway Group purchased the intellectual property of Aptera Motors from creditors, and in May, it announced that it would start manufacturing the 2e at its factory in Shanghai and intended to ship chassis to a small assembly plant, initially employing 15-20 people, that it would set up in Santa Rosa, with sales commencing in early 2013. Jonway was a major investor in Zap Jonway, which had been working on electric cars in Santa Rosa since the mid-1990s. The company planned to name the US company "Zaptera USA" and it displayed a prototype 2e next to a Zap Jonway car at the Beijing Motor Show. However, the close association with Zap was met with protest by electric-car enthusiasts and by May, the company said it would call the company Aptera USA and keep it independent of Zap Jonway. The company stated it would manufacture 5000 vehicles by the end of 2012.

In June 2013, Zaptera USA said it would split into two companies: the existing Jonway-owned Zaptera USA, and an independent Aptera USA; Zaptera would make the all-electric 2e and Aptera would make a gasoline-powered version called the 2g.{{cite news|last1=Coxworth|first1=Ben|title=New company set to resurrect the Aptera automobile|url=http://newatlas.com/aptera-independent-production-us/27868/|work=New Atlas|date=June 10, 2013|language=en}} The companies as of June 2013 were still planning on releasing vehicles in early 2014,{{citation |url=https://www.foxnews.com/auto/200-mpg-aptera-still-in-the-works-says-owner |title=200 mpg Aptera still in the works, says owner |date=June 10, 2013 |website=Fox News}} but provided no further updates by May 2014{{cite web |last1=Sloan |first1=Jeff |title=Where Are They Now? |url=https://www.compositesworld.com/columns/where-are-they-now |website=CompositesWorld |date=May 31, 2014 |publisher=Gardner Business Media, Inc. |access-date=14 January 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723102311/https://www.compositesworld.com/columns/where-are-they-now |archive-date=July 23, 2014}} and did not manufacture any vehicles by 2019.{{citation |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastianblanco/2019/08/28/aptera-coming-back-with-a-34000-aerodynamic-trike-maybe/ |title=Aptera Coming Back With A $34,000 Aerodynamic Trike, Maybe |author=Sebastian Blanco |website=Forbes |date=August 28, 2019}}

The company was relaunched in 2019 as Aptera Motors Corp. by the original Aptera founders, Chris Anthony and Steve Fambro.{{cite web |last1=Voelcker |first1=John |date=2019-08-28 |title=Exclusive: 3-Wheeled Aptera Reboots as World's Most Efficient Electric Car |url= https://spectrum.ieee.org/exclusive-3wheeled-aptera-reboots-as-worlds-most-efficient-electric-car |website=IEEESpectrum.org |publisher= IEEE |access-date=14 January 2020}} The company planned on using a crowdfunding campaign to restart development of the vehicle. On December 8th 2020, the company presented a driveable prototype and started accepting reservations. By December 14th the company had over 3000 refundable preorders for $100 each.{{citation |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/aptera-3000-preorders-for-solar-powered-ev-2020-12 |title=Aptera has taken more than 3,000 orders for a new solar-powered EV arriving in 2021 that it says never needs to be charged |author=Tim Levin |date=December 14, 2020 |website=Business Insider}}

Multiple solar panel, motor, and battery configurations were planned, with estimated ranges from {{cvt|250|to|1,000|miles}}, and initial estimated prices from $25,900 to over $47,000.{{cite web |last=Markus |first=Frank |date=2021-09-30 |title=2022 Aptera First Look: The Solar-Powered Electric Vehicle |url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/2022-aptera-solar-ev-first-look-review/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=Motor Trend |publisher=Discovery, Inc.}} The {{cvt|400|mile|km|adj=on}} model, initially priced at $29,800,{{citation |url=https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/watch-apteras-solar-powered-3-wheel-ev-cruise-southern-californias-winding-coastal-roads-1234618320/ |title=Watch Aptera’s Solar-Powered 3-Wheel EV Cruise Southern California’s Winding Coastal Roads |author=Rachel Cormack |date= June 9, 2021 |website=Robb Report}} was priced by Aptera in 2025 at $40,000 for the front-wheel drive option which the company planned as of 2023 to be the only available model on release.{{cite web| title=Solar electric vehicle startup says its car will go 400 miles on a full battery and never needs to be charged |url= https://www.businessinsider.com/aptera-electric-vehicle-launch-edition-solar-panel-car-2023-1| work= businessinsider.com |publisher=Insider Inc. |access-date=2023-07-16}}

Aptera planned delivering production units of the Aptera vehicle in 2021, and projected sales of the first 314 vehicles at a loss with a cost of goods of about $6 million and operating expenses of about $15 million. Aptera projected sales of 4,287 vehicles at a profit of $38 million the following year, with a cost of goods of about $92 million and about $16 million in operating expenses.{{citation |title=Aptera - Modernizing Vehicle Design & Manufacturing - INVESTOR PRESENTATION |url=https://dfon51l7zffjj.cloudfront.net/uploads/company_attachment/file/51975-bwe45xy9axIVOuR2TcC7FPGT/Wefunder_Investor_Presentation_v2.pdf |website=Wefunder |author=Aptera Motors|via=cloudfront.net}} By October 2021 Aptera had raised $28 million.{{citation |url=https://electrek.co/2021/10/28/an-up-close-look-at-the-aptera-sevs-and-interview-with-co-founder-chris-anthony/ |title=An up close look at the Aptera SEVs and interview with co-founder Chris Anthony |website=electrek |author=Scooter Doll |date=October 28, 2021}}

In March 2022 Aptera announced they were on schedule to deliver vehicles by the end of the year.{{citation |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sGRVFHFY10 |title=Aptera Update — March 2022 |date=March 25, 2022 |author=Aptera Motors Corp. |website=YouTube}} Aptera released its 2021 annual report in May 2022, stating they had 103 employees and over 18,000 reservations for their solar electric vehicle.{{Cite web |last=SEC |title=Aptera Motors Corp 2021 Annual Report 1-K |date=2022-05-02 |url= https://sec.report/Document/0001193125-22-136559/ |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=SEC.report |language= en}} By mid 2022, the company raised a total of $40 million, planning to get to production by the end of the year.{{citation |url=https://electrek.co/2022/06/06/aptera-raises-million-solar-electric-car-1000-miles-range-production/ |title=Aptera raises $40 million to bring solar electric car with up to 1,000 miles of range to production |author=Fred Lambert |date=June 6, 2022 |website=electrek}} They acquired three buildings in Carlsbad, California, with a combined space of over {{cvt|100,000| sqft}}.{{Cite web| last= Ruffo| first=Gustavo Henrique|date=2021-11-08|title=Aptera Plans Micro-Factories and IPO in Nine to Eighteen Months| url=https://www.autoevolution.com/news/aptera-plans-micro-factories-and-ipo-in-nine-to-eighteen-months-173711.html|access-date=2021-12-21|website=autoevolution.com|language=en}} In November 2022 Aptera announced they have redesigned the structural components of the vehicle, and it requires more funding before they can get to production.{{citation |url=https://insideevs.com/news/627567/aptera-delta-design-update/ |title=Aptera Shares Design Update, Says It’s On Track To Start Production |author=Andrei Nedelea |date=December 20, 2022 |website=InsideEVs}}

In January 2023 the company announced a fund drive to raise $50 million, saying they needed at least that amount to start production.{{cite magazine |last=Dnistran |first=Iulian |date=2023-03-16 |title=Aptera Extends Its Accelerator Program, Needs More Money To Start Production |url=https://insideevs.com/news/657520/aptera-accelerator-program-extends/ |magazine= Inside EVs |location=Miami |publisher=Motorsport Network |access-date=2023-10-03}} The company announced in February that the funds would allow for the "initial phases of production", and the following month said it requires additional funds to produce and deliver vehicles to customers.{{citation |url=https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1142486_aptera-lacks-funds-solar-ev-hints-of-design-changes |title=Aptera lacks the funds to produce solar EV, hints of design changes |author=Bengt Halvorson Bengt |date=March 6, 2024 |website=GreenCarReport}} Aptera Motors' stated in their 2022 annual report released in May 2023 that the company then had 55 full-time employees. They reported $39.9 million in total assets and an operating loss of $61.5 million.{{Cite web |last=Daw |first=Cameron |title= ANNUAL REPORT Aptera Motors Corp. |date=2023-05-02 | website= SEC.gov| url= https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1786471/000164460023000077/ApteraCARandFinancials.pdf |access-date=2023-05-09 }}

Aptera stated in June 2024 that they have finalized the design of the vehicle in late 2023.{{citation |archive-url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QnLOomcGiM&t=1910s |url=https://issuanceexpress.com/aptera-regcf/ |archive-date=June 6, 2024 |url-status=dead |title=Aptera June 2024 Investor Webinar |author=Aptera Motors Corp. |date=June 6, 2024}} Aptera announced in July 2024 that they have replaced the hub motor design of the drivetrain with a Vitesco Technologies axle drive motor design.{{citation |url=https://cleantechnica.com/2024/07/25/aptera-ditches-hub-motors-for-now-makes-real-progress-toward-2025-production/ |title=Aptera Ditches Hub Motors (For Now), Makes Real Progress Toward 2025 Production |author=Jennifer Sensiba |date=July 25, 2024 |website=CleanTechnica}} The company demonstrated its production-intent PI2 model in October 2024.{{citation |url=https://www.autoweek.com/news/a62776435/aptera-pi2-solar-car/ |magazine=Autoweek |title=Whatever Happened To Aptera, Anyway? |author=Mark Vaughn |date=31 October 2024}}

In January 2025, electric vehicle startup Telo Trucks partnered with Aptera to offer solar panels as an option for its compact MT1 pickup truck.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-15 |title=Telo electric truck to feature solar panels from Aptera |url=https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1145511_telo-electric-truck-to-feature-solar-panels-from-aptera |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Green Car Reports |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Doll |first=Scooter |date=2025-01-15 |title=Ultra-compact electric truck startup TELO partners with Aptera to integrate solar tech |url=https://electrek.co/2025/01/15/compact-electric-truck-startup-telo-partners-aptera-integrate-solar-tech/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Electrek |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-01-15 |title=TELO Trucks Partners with Aptera to Introduce Solar Panel Configurations to Revolutionize Mobility |url=https://aptera.us/telo-trucks-partners-with-aptera/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Aptera |language=en-US}} In early April 2025, Aptera announced they have raised a total of $130 million through crowdfunding and $10 million from other investors, and the company requires an additional $60 million before it can start low-volume production,{{citation |url=https://www.inc.com/chloe-aiello/this-futuristic-solar-powered-aptera-ev-just-took-a-long-road-trip/91170186 |title=This Futuristic Solar-Powered EV Just Took a Road Trip Across the American West |author=Chloe Aiello |date=April 1, 2025 |website=inc.com}}{{Cite web |last=Dnistran |first=Iulian |date=2024-12-03 |title=Aptera Needs Your Money To Bring Its Solar EV To The Market--Again |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/aptera-needs-your-money-to-bring-its-solar-ev-to-the-market-again/ar-AA1vbVK4 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=www.msn.com}} with deliveries planned for late 2025.{{citation |url=https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/365559/aptera-solar-car-ready-shine-road-ps32k |date=April 1, 2025 |author=Richard Ingram |website=Auto Express |title=Aptera solar car does 300 miles – powered only by the sun!}}{{citation |url=https://electrek.co/2025/01/08/aptera-shows-its-production-intent-solar-ev-at-ces-ships-this-year/ |title=Aptera shows its production-intent solar EV at CES, ships this year? (Update) |author=Jameson Dow |date=January 8, 2025 |website=electrek}} As of late April 2025, initial sales are planned for 2026 and full-scale production is planned for 2028.{{citation |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-18/business/industry/Exclusive-Hankook-Tire-to-supply-tires-for-Aptera-solar-EVs/2286672 |title=Exclusive: Hankook Tire to supply tires for Aptera solar EVs |author=Sarah Chea |website=Korea JoongAng Daily |date=April 18, 2025}}

{{Infobox automobile

| name = Aptera Mk-1

| image = File:Apteracar2.jpg

| aka =

| assembly = United States

| class = Subcompact

| body_style = 2-door three-wheeled car

| engine = {{Unbulleted list

| Diesel: {{cvt|9|kW|hp|0}}

| Electric: {{cvt|19|kW|hp|0}}

}}

| transmission = CVT

| wheelbase = {{cvt|1625|mm|in|0}}

| length = {{cvt|4394|mm|in|0}}

| width =

| height =

| weight = {{cvt|386|kg|lb|0}}

| sp = us

}}

The 2006 Aptera Motors' vehicle design has undergone several design revisions. The first two prototypes, Aptera Mk-0 and Mk-1, were intended as concept cars for attracting investor funds, rather than as production vehicles. The third vehicle, the Aptera 2e, was intended for production, but the required funding was not achieved.

Aptera's introductory press release stated its design would achieve {{cvt|330|mpgUS|L/100km mpgimp}}, and included computer renderings of the vehicle. The body shape was estimated to have a {{Cd|0.055 to 0.06|long=yes|link=car}}, and would have sported a {{cvt|12|hp|kW|0}} diesel engine and a {{cvt|24|hp|kW|0}} permanent magnet DC motor. The design also called for a CVT and ultracapacitors, and would sell for under US$20,000 {{asof|2006|lc=y}}.{{Cite web

|url=http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=108992

|title=330 MPG! Aptera Hybrid Promises Amazing Mileage for Less Than $20,000

|access-date=November 22, 2007

|date=January 20, 2006

|publisher=Edmunds.com

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010013619/http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId%3D108992

|archive-date=October 10, 2006

|url-status=dead

}}

In September 2007, the Aptera Motors website was updated with the new Aptera design dubbed the Aptera Typ-1, and the Mk-1 pre-production prototype was unveiled. It was redesigned from the Mk-0 prototype by Jason Hill, who worked on the Smart Fortwo and Porsche Carrera GT and engineered by Nathan Armstrong,{{Cite news

| url = https://www.wired.com/cars/futuretransport/magazine/16-01/ff_100mpg

| title = 1 Gallon of Gas, 100 Miles – $10 Million: The Race to Build the Supergreen Car

| access-date =April 1, 2008

| last = Eric

| first = Hagerman

| date = December 20, 2007

| publisher = Wired Magazine

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080509104729/http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretransport/magazine/16-01/ff_100mpg| archive-date= May 9, 2008 | url-status= live}}

with a finished interior and new body styling. Aptera Motors then began accepting reservations from California residents for its pilot models – then called the Typ-1e and Typ-1h.{{Cite web

| url = http://ohgizmo.com/2007/09/28/aptera-electrichybrid-car-on-pre-order-for-500/

| title = OhGizmo! » Archive » Aptera Electric/Hybrid Car On Pre-Order for $500

| access-date =May 13, 2008

| last = Ackerman

| first = Evan

| date = September 28, 2007

| publisher = OhGizmo!

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080517070328/http://www.ohgizmo.com/2007/09/28/aptera-electrichybrid-car-on-pre-order-for-500/| archive-date= May 17, 2008 | url-status= live}}

Aptera entered its vehicle into the automotive X-prize competition in September 2010 but the vehicle didn't finish the 50-lap trial as it overheated after 30 laps.{{cite news|title=Automotive X Prize: Why some teams failed|url=http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2010/09/automotive-x-prize-why-some-teams-failed/index.htm|work=Consumer Reports News|date=September 23, 2010}}

{{clear}}

{{Infobox automobile

|name=Aptera 2 Series

|image=Apteracar1.jpg

|aka=Aptera 2e, Aptera 2h

|class=Subcompact

|body_style=2-door three-wheeled car

|layout=Front-engine, front-wheel drive layout

|engine=2e: Remy 82 kW electric motor
2h: Gasoline generator + electric motor

{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/10/16/apteras-series-hybrid/

|title=Aptera's Series Hybrid

|accessdate=2007-12-11

|last=Ring |first=Ed

|date=2007-10-16

|publisher=EcoWorld

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022064428/http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/10/16/apteras-series-hybrid/

|archive-date=2007-10-22

|url-status=dead

}}

|transmission=2e: Borg-Warner single ratio transaxle{{Cite web|url=http://www.aptera.com/brochure/APTERA_2009_2E_BROCHURE.pdf|title=Aptera 2e Brochure|accessdate=2010-04-15|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102212615/http://aptera.com/brochure/APTERA_2009_2E_BROCHURE.pdf|archivedate=2010-01-02}}
2h: Series hybrid layout

|wheelbase={{cvt|111|in|mm|0|order=flip}}

|length={{cvt|173.0|in|mm|0|order=flip}}

|width={{cvt|91.0|in|mm|0|order=flip}}

|height={{cvt|53.0|in|mm|0|order=flip}}

|weight={{cvt|1500|lb|kg|0|order=flip}}

|related=

|designer=Jason Hill

|sp=us

}}

The next Aptera Motors' design was a three-wheeled two-seat vehicle named the Aptera 2 Series. Its advertised fuel efficiency of {{cvt|300|mpgUS|L/100km mpgimp}}, when plugged in every {{cvt|120|miles|km}}, would have made it one of the most fuel-efficient passenger vehicles in the world.{{Cite web| url = http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2006-09/race-100-mpg| title = The Race to 100 MPG| access-date =November 22, 2007| last = Baker| first = Billy| date = September 1, 2006| publisher = | work= Popular Science}}

The first prototype attained a {{Cd|0.11|long=yes}} by making use of an "Eyes-Forward" rear-view camera system instead of side-view mirrors, which create a large amount of drag. A September 2008 Aptera newsletter showed a rendering of the car featuring a conventional driver-side mirror and no driver-side rear-view camera.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aptera.com/newsletter092508/ |title=Aptera 25 September 2008 |accessdate=2008-10-01 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003015928/http://aptera.com/newsletter092508/ |archivedate=2008-10-03 |url-status=dead }} Aptera CTO Steve Fambro stated that the system was simplified to make use of a single camera mounted near the top of the vehicle.{{Cite web |url= http://www.techzulu.com/the-aptera-its-electric.html |title= The Aptera. It's Electric! |accessdate= 2010-05-18 |date= 2008-11-20 |last= Coolong |first= Amanda |publisher= TechZulu.com |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100618205505/http://www.techzulu.com/the-aptera-its-electric.html |archivedate= 2010-06-18 |url-status= dead }}

An early Aptera 2h design used a "small, water-cooled EFI gasoline engine with closed loop oxygen feedback and catalytic converter," coupled with a 12 kW generator/starter.{{Cite web |url= http://www.aptera.com/details.php |title= Aptera Details |accessdate= 2010-05-18 |publisher= Aptera Motors |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100515175845/http://www.aptera.com/details.php |archivedate= 2010-05-15 |url-status= dead }} With a tank capacity of "up to five gallons," the Aptera 2h would have a claimed range of {{cvt|600|to|700|miles|km|-1}},{{Cite web |url=http://www.cbs8.com/story.php?id=104287 |title=Jetsons-Style Car Gets Space Age Mileage |date=2007-09-28 |accessdate=2008-01-19 |publisher=News 8 KFMB, San Diego |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227175436/http://www.cbs8.com/story.php?id=104287 |archivedate=2007-12-27 |url-status=dead }} compared to the {{cvt|120|miles|-1}} range of the Aptera 2e. The 2h would have been a series hybrid: The engine would not be connected to the drivetrain, instead being used to recharge the batteries.

The company opened pre-ordering for residents of California, but stopped taking deposits in July 2011. The following month, Aptera announced it would return all deposits from customers who had signed up to buy a car.{{cite web|url=http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1064883_futuristic-electric-car-dream-dead-aptera-to-refund-deposits|title=Futuristic Electric-Car Dream Dead? Aptera To Refund Deposits|author=John Voelcker|publisher=Green Car Reports|date=13 August 2011|accessdate=13 August 2011}}

By the time of the original company's liquidation in 2011, it had abandoned development of the Aptera 2e and had begun design of a 5-passenger, 4-wheeled EV sedan with a lightweight composite body and a projected 130-mile range. No body and only a few test mules for the car were built.

File:APTERA2019 ASPHALT-DOORS-CLOSED crop.jpg

{{Main|Aptera (solar electric vehicle)}}

Aptera Motors Corp planned to have four stages of prototypes for its Aptera solar vehicle, with the third stage of prototypes nearing the final production design, and the fourth representing a prototype that's identical to production vehicles.{{cite magazine |last=Sensiba |first=Jennifer |date=2021-11-02 |title=Aptera Ends Alpha Production, Beta Production Under Way |url=https://cleantechnica.com/2021/11/02/aptera-ends-alpha-production-beta-production-under-way/ |magazine=CleanTechnica |location= |publisher= |access-date=2023-10-03}}

The first planned production Aptera vehicle in 2019 was a two-seat, three-wheeled passenger battery electric vehicle (BEV). The company claimed the vehicle would get a predicted EPA test-cycle range of up to {{cvt|1,000|miles|km}}, with solar panels that could add up to {{cvt|40|miles|km|round=5}} of range per day,{{Cite web |last=Lambrecht |first=Andrew |date=2023-07-18 |title=Can Aptera make a cheap solar EV? |url=https://www.hotcars.com/apteras-affordable-solar-ev-plans/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=HotCars |language=en}} making it the most efficient motor vehicle designed for mass production at the time, with the longest battery range. Embedded solar panels were designed to contribute up to an estimated additional {{cvt|40|miles|km|round=5}} per day from sunlight under optimal conditions.{{cite web |title=Electric Vehicles |url=https://www.aptera.us |access-date=January 4, 2020 |website=Aptera.us |publisher=Aptera Motors Corp.}} Most American drivers drive less than {{cvt|30|miles}} per day.{{Cite web|title=National Household Travel Survey Daily Travel Quick Facts | publisher= Bureau of Transportation Statistics| website= bts.gov | url= https://www.bts.gov/statistical-products/surveys/national-household-travel-survey-daily-travel-quick-facts| access-date=2021-12-21}}

The 2019 design included two or three 50 KW wheel hub motors. Aptera announced in June 2022 a detailed plan to scale in-wheel motor production in Slovenia by Elaphe.{{cite magazine |last=Randall |first=Chris |date=2022-06-23 |title=Aptera orders in-wheel motors from Elaphe |url= https://www.electrive.com/2022/06/23/aptera-orders-in-wheel-motors-from-elaphe/ |magazine=Electrive |location=Berlin |publisher=Rabbit Publishing GmbH |access-date=2023-10-03}} Due to issues with getting the Aptera in-wheel motor design to production it was replaced in 2024 with a standard front-wheel drive axle design for the production model.

Another prototype of the Aptera vehicle was shown in January 2025 at the Consumer Electronics Show. The prototype shown at CES 2025 was "nearly" ready for production.{{citation |url=https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/apteras-self-charging-solar-powered-car-nearly-ready-production |title=Aptera’s self-charging, solar-powered car is (nearly) ready for production |author=Vijay Pattni |date=January 7, 2025 |website=Top Gear}} The carbon-fiber and fiberglass panels of the vehicle were made with production tooling, however the diecast metal suspension arms and the injection-molded interior components were not.{{citation |url=https://www.motortrend.com/events/aptera-solar-powered-ev-ces-2025/ |title=Aptera Says Its $40,000 Solar-Powered EV Is Finally Coming This Year. Should You Believe It? |author=Eric Tingwall |date=January 17, 2025 |website=Motor Trend}}

• Edison2's The Very Light Car
• Commuter Cars
• Energy efficiency in transport
• Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Aptera Motors}}

• {{official website|https://aptera.us}}

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Category:Battery electric vehicle manufacturers

Category:Electric vehicle manufacturers of the United States

Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in California

Category:Manufacturing companies based in San Diego

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2005

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 2011

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2019

Category:2005 establishments in California

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Category:2019 establishments in California

Category:Privately held companies based in California